Racecourse redevelopment faces fresh scrutiny

Jason Dowling

Plans for a massive redevelopment of Moonee Valley Racecourse, including residential towers of up to 25 storeys, will be assessed by a new planning advisory committee after the Baillieu government rejected calls for immediate heritage controls on the site.

Moonee Valley Racing Club has developed a master plan for the famous racecourse that hosts the Cox Plate that includes the realignment of the racetrack, a new, larger grandstand and medium and high-density residential development.

The $1.4 billion redevelopment would include more than 2000 apartments and townhouses at the site.

On Thursday, Mr Guy wrote to the council and said he would instead appoint an advisory committee to advise the government and the council on the proposed redevelopment of the racecourse.

"On balance, I believe intervention in heritage matters in advance of an advisory committee process would not result in the fair, orderly and sustainable consideration for development of the land and the authorisation of permanent heritage controls should be considered with the wider proposal for the racecourse site," Mr Guy wrote.

He said the advisory committee will allow the "merits of the proposal to be debated in an open, transparent, public forum".

Mr Guy also said the planning control for the site "still remains with council despite the advisory committee report to both your council and myself".

Mr Guy said the advisory committee would allow the council, community and racing club to have an open public discussion about the future of the racecourse.

Moonee Valley Council Mayor Narelle Sharpe said she was pleased Mr Guy had stated the council would remain the responsible authority for the racecourse site.

She said the council had worked well with Moonee Valley Racing Club in relation to the development plans and hoped this would continue.

The chairman of the Moonee Valley Racing Club, Bob Scarborough, said the club welcomed the appointment of the advisory committee and "looks forward to working with the council, state government, department of planning, local community and other stakeholders in advancing this vital redevelopment through this next important phase".

The local member for Essendon and former planning minister Justin Madden, said: "I would hope the planning minister will guarantee the council will remain the responsible authority for the site for the duration of the process."